Hi °C | Lo °C Rodney McAree admits Dungannon Swifts face a huge test as they aim to break a 14-match winless streak against Cliftonville today.
The Tyrone side's last win in this fixture came in February 2008 when a Michael Hegarty strike secured a 1-0 victory.
Nearly five years on, the prospects of Dungannon breaking that sequence at Solitude appear slim at best.
Tommy Breslin’s side have started the season in fine form, winning seven of their 11 league games, and only goal difference is keeping them off top spot in the table.
And Swifts manager McAree concedes it will be another tough test.
“Cliftonville are a very good side — probably one of the top three in the league — and they have a great record against us in recent seasons,” he said.
“They had a run of victories against us, however, we drew with them in August and maybe that is a monkey off our back.
“We will approach it in the same manner as Linfield, and we know it is going to be very difficult.”
With 11 games gone, Dungannon have played all the teams in the Premiership.
They have 12 points from those fixtures and sit ninth in the table, eight points ahead of bottom club Donegal Celtic, and McAree has been satisfied with Swifts’ start to the campaign.
“We have drawn six of the 11 games and have only lost three times,” he added.
“If we could turn a couple of those draws into wins it would make a massive difference in terms of our points total and our league position.
“You have to remember there has been a big turnover of players. We had 10 new signings in the summer and five additions in January.
“We are still growing as a team and I think we’re getting better with every game.”
Dungannon are missing Terry Fitzpatrick tomorrow.
He is suspended after being sent off for his part in the brawl against Linfield.
